Best formations in EA FC 24, custom tactics & player instructions

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Picking the best formation in EA FC 24 will give you a massive advantage in both Ultimate Team and competitive play. Here, we’re going to show you how to build out the best systems in the game, along with player instructions and their custom tactics.

The best formation in EA FC 24 (July 2024)

The best formation in the current EA FC 24 meta is the 4-3-2-1, as recommended by professional esports athletes and streamers for its perfect balance between attack and defense.

On top of that, we have deep-dived our 10 best setups here so you have plenty of options to suit your playstyle, tactical setup, and most importantly – your players.

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Best 4-3-2-1 balanced custom tactics in EA FC 24

Player instructions

  • Left-back: Stay back while attacking
  • Right-back: Balanced
  • CM: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
  • LCM: Cover center, stay back while attacking
  • RCM: Cover wing
  • CFs: Get in behind
  • ST: Stay central, get in behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 45
  • Depth: 65

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Chance Creation: Direct passing
  • Width: 45
  • Players In Box: 5 bars
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 1 bar

Everything depends on the strong foot of your attacking player in center mid. If the player is right-footed, use them as an RCM, and vice versa. The fullback will stay back while attacking goes on the same side as the attacking central mid, while the other outside back remains balanced.

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Following those steps ensures that your team in EA FC 24 will attack in a 4-2-4 and defend in a 4-4-2.

Best 4-3-3 attacking formation & custom tactics

Player instructions

  • LB & RB: Join the attack, overlap
  • CB: Balanced
  • CAM: Stay back while attacking, cover center
  • CMs: Balanced
  • Wingers: Get in behind, cut inside
  • ST: Stay central, get in behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Pressure on Heavy Touch
  • Width: 55
  • Depth: 45

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Fast Buil Up
  • Chance Creation: Direct passing
  • Width: 50
  • Players In Box: 3 bars
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 3 bars

This formation is very fluid, as it will allow your wingers to cut inside, midfielders to push forward during attacks, and full-backs to overlap.

With the 4-3-3 formation, your wingers will be able to stretch the opponent’s defense, creating space in the middle for the midfielders to aid the striker and create goal situations. It can also be very effective for counter-attacking, as your wingers can use the open spaces left by the opponent’s fullbacks while your midfielders and striker launch forward.

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Best 5-4-1 defensive custom tactics

Player instructions

  • LWB: Join the attack, overlap
  • RWB: Join the attack, overlap
  • CMs: One on Cover Center, Stay Back, and the other stays Balanced and Cover Center
  • LM & RM: Come back on defense, Get in Behind, Get into the box for cross
  • ST: Stay forward, Stay central, Get in Behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 35
  • Depth: 50

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Long Ball
  • Chance Creation: Direct Passing
  • Width: 50
  • Players In Box: 8 bars
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 3 for corners & 2 for free kicks

The 5-4-1 is very strong defensively and is a good option for high-level competitive matches. If you are in the final few matches of a Weekend League and absolutely need to win a match, these tactics work perfectly.

Players who like to play through the middle of the field won’t like this formation. The goal on offense is to use the outside midfielders and outside backs to overload a wing and create openings in the final third with a cross.

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Best 4-1-2-1-2 narrow formation & custom tactics

Player instructions

  • Left-back: Stay back while attacking
  • Right-back: Stay back while attacking
  • CDM: Cover center, Stay back while attacking
  • CMs: Get into the box for crosses, Get forward
  • CAM: Stay forward
  • ST: Stay forward, Get in behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 40
  • Depth: 55

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Chance Creation: Forward Runs
  • Width: 40
  • Players In Box: 70
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

Packing out the midfield in EA FC 24 gives you plenty of options when trying to build an attack and play through the lines while also making it hard for your opponent to find space in the middle of the park.

Related:

EA FC 24 best camera settings: How to improve vision for Ultimate Team, Pro Clubs & Career Mode

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It’s also possible to add some width if you don’t mind committing bodies forward. Picking two center midfielders with pace can simulate the effect of having wingers, or you can set the full-backs to bomb forward and deliver crosses.

Best 4-2-3-1 wide formation & custom tactics

Player instructions

  • Left-back: Stay back while attacking
  • Right-back: Stay back while attacking
  • CDMs: Cover center on both, Stay back while attacking on one, Balanced on the other
  • CAM: Stay forward, Get into the box for crosses
  • ST: Stay forward, Get in behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 35
  • Depth: 55

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Direct Passing
  • Chance Creation: Forward Runs
  • Width: 40
  • Players In Box: 70
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

This formation is the epitome of well-balanced. With both CDMs and outside backs staying back on the attack, it makes it incredibly different for opposing sides to even attempt a counter-attack. Mounting any sort of quick attack yourself also becomes difficult, but smart passes and patient play should still result in plenty of goals.

We recommend using a 4-2-3-1 if you are struggling on offense or defense. Practicing these tactics should make it easier to get more comfortable before transitioning to a more advanced formation.

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Best 3-4-2-1 counter attacking custom tactics

Player instructions

  • LM & RM: Come back on defense, Stay wide, Stay on the edge of the box for cross  
  • CMs: Cover center, Stay Back while attacking, Stay on the edge of the box for cross
  • ST, LF & RF: Stay Central, Get in behind, Stay Forward

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 35
  • Depth: 55

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Chance Creation: Direct Passing
  • Width: 50
  • Players In Box: 6 bars
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

The depth is so low because through balls can be an issue if your center backs aren’t deep enough. Keeping the left and right mid on defensive tactics is crucial because you don’t want them to over-commit and expose an easy counter-attack.

All three of the forwards wait in the attacking third for passes to be sent directly to them. This formation works best when you get them the ball as fast as possible. From there, it should be easy with three attackers going at once.

Best 4-3-3 holding custom tactics

Player instructions

  • CDM: Stary back while attacking, cover center  
  • CMs: Balanced
  • Wingers: Come back on defense, cut inside
  • ST: Target player, stay central

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 50
  • Depth: 60

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Chance Creation: Possession
  • Width: 50
  • Players In Box: 6 bars
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

From a defensive approach, the 4-3-3 formation in EA FC 24 will allow you to use the midfielders to close down the passing lanes, intercept attacks, and break up plays. If quick on their toes, they can also counter-press when the opponent loses possession of the ball.

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This formation is one of the most stable as it’s very hard for opponents to break through the very compact defensive lines.

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Best 4-4-2 flat formation & custom tactics

Player instructions

  • LB & RB: Stay back while attacking 
  • CM: Stay back while attacking, cover center
  • LM & RM: Come back on defence, stay on the edge of the box for cross
  • ST: Drift wide, get in behind

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 50
  • Depth: 70

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Chance Creation: Direct Passing
  • Width: 50
  • Players In Box: 5 bars
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 3 bars

The 4-4-2 might be a more classic playstyle, but it is also very versatile, as midfielders can either go high up for attacks or sit deeper in the pitch to help the defense.

As a more defensive formation, players will have to stay on alert to take advantage of any attacking opportunities, and having two Strikers instead of one will make that faster and easier.

Best 5-3-2 holding formation & custom tactics

Player instructions

  • CBs: Stay back while attacking 
  • LWB & RWB: Balanced, join the attack
  • CMs & CDM: Balanced
  • STs: Target player, stay central

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Drop Back
  • Width: 40
  • Depth: 70

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Long Ball
  • Chance Creation: Direct Passing
  • Width: 30
  • Players In Box: 5 bars
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

The main focus of this formation is the defense, as the five back players will have support from the three midfielders in a very compact shape, making it extremely hard for opponents to penetrate your half of the pitch.

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During offensive plays or counter-attacks, the formation can change into a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3 with the wings pushing forward.

Best 5-2-2-1 formation in EA FC 24

Player instructions

  • LWB & RWB: Join the attack, overlap
  • CBs: Stay back while attacking, step up
  • CDMs: Stay back while attacking, cover center
  • CAMs: Come back on defence, stay on the edge of the box for cross
  • STs: Stay central, mixed attack

Defensive tactics

  • Defensive Style: Balanced
  • Width: 40
  • Depth: 55

Offensive tactics

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Chance Creation: Direct Passing
  • Width: 60
  • Players In Box: 5 bars
  • Corners and Free Kicks: 2 bars

Having a numerical advantage in defense will always come in handy, mainly if part of that defense can change things up when it’s time to attack. With the 5-2-2-1 formation, you’ll have five defenders, with both LWB and RWB joining the midfielders and striker when attacking.

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While the CDMs will stay back to control the midfield, the CAMs will go back and forth to seek goal opportunities with the striker.

Those are the best formations and custom tactics in EA FC 24. Learn more about FUT Heroes and the Evolutions system here, and check out the 100 Best Young Players, Best Teams to Manage, as well as the Ultimate Club builds.

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